Liverpool star vents Chelsea frustrations

Daniel Sturridge says that he is happy that he left Chelsea to join Liverpool last year, with a lack of belief in his abilities while at Stamford Bridge a source of frustration.

The England international was arguably the signing of the January transfer window in 2012, as he immediately settled into life at Anfield.

Sturridge was used sparingly in West London during his time there, with the club often electing to field him in a wide position despite him being more adept from a central area.

Since joining Liverpool he has operated in his desired role frequently, and has even thrived alongside the headline-grabbing Luis Suarez in a partnership dubbed ‘SAS’.

Sturridge told the Anfield Wrap that he always had faith in his abilities while at Chelsea, but found it frustrating that he was played out of position:

“When I was at Chelsea I wasn’t myself,” he says. “I wasn’t me as a person in terms of how open I am.

“I couldn’t be myself in terms of everything. When I came here I made the point to myself, ‘You know what, Daniel, just be yourself’ and if people take it well, then good.

“I always thought I’d make it but I was never sure if I’d play as a striker because people didn’t believe in me,

“I was often asked to play in a different position and to do a job for the team but having been a striker and then being asked to just flick a switch and play on the wing was always going to be difficult because mentally you’re going to play the way you always have and I play on instinct.

“I think that now I’m just playing the way that I did as a kid but I’d never had the chance to do that. When I was playing as a winger at Chelsea I was over-thinking it because I wasn’t used to doing it. It’s about that split second when you have to decide whether you do this or do that whereas now I’m just playing on instinct. I’m just doing the natural thing, playing my natural game and doing things off the cuff.

Despite only joining Liverpool last year and having spent a large chunk of this season out injured, Sturridge has already netted over 20 goals in all competitions.